Nintendo
just released some financial results with a tweaked forecast on sales
and profits. The company slashed profit forecasts by 70% due to slow
sales of the 3DS in North America, and gave an estimate on how many Wii U
console they expect to sell.
Nintendo revealed that the company expects Wii U sales to hit 5.5 million by March 2013, when the current fiscal year runs out. Back in July, Nintendo said they expect to sell 8 million consoles by March 2013, which include both Wii and Wii U units.
At the same time, some analysts estimated that the company would only sell about 4 million Wii U consoles during that time frame. Nintendo has now gone on the record and set a target number: 5.5 million.
This number is actually pretty close to the original Wii, which sold
5.8 million units during the same period in 2007. Wii sales are now at
97 million, and will likely pass 100 million by March 2013. By Kyo Sasaki Source (Nintendo financial PDF) source http://wiiudaily.com/2012/10/nintendo-to-sell-5-5-million-wii-u-consoles-by-march-2013/
Nintendo's new-generation game system adds tablet-style controller
For Nintendo's next video-game
console, the most important screen isn't that flat-panel TV in your
living room. It's the one on your lap.
The Wii U, successor to
Nintendo's blockbuster Wii console, presents several intriguing
possibilities for interactive entertainment, thanks to a tablet-style
controller, the GamePad.
The GamePad is highlighted by a 6.2-inch
touchscreen, flanked by thumbsticks on each side, a camera on top and an
assortment of buttons standard on most video-game controllers. Imagine
stretching out a traditional controller and slapping a screen right in
the middle.
At first glance, the GamePad looks bulky, but feels comfortable to handle for even the most complex video games.
Setting
up the device is pretty straightforward. Nintendo wisely includes a
HDMI cable with both the 8 GB and 32 GB models, and a walk-through
makes it simple to prepare for play. Hopping among apps or games and the
main menu is sluggish, though. The device itself is slightly bigger
than the Wii, so it should fit into most entertainment hubs with little
trouble.
Most of the Wii U's 30-plus launch titles leverage the GamePad in interesting ways. In the survival thriller ZombiU, players use their second screen to track inventory or hold it up toward the TV to scan an area. Madden NFL 13
allows players to call plays and change assignments on the fly by
tapping or drawing on the touchscreen. In the mini-game collection Nintendo Land, players hold the controller vertically, flinging stars at ninjas by swiping fingers.
Most
intriguing is how much gaming can be accomplished without the need for a
television. The Wii U streams games onto the GamePad, so players can
enjoy a handful of video games solely on the small screen, making it
more portable than other home consoles. The GamePad's range makes it
easy to move among rooms of a house while enjoying a game.
In the
event that players prefer a larger screen, it's tough not to notice that
Nintendo finally is entering the world of high-definition gaming.
Titles such as New Super Mario Bros. U sparkle onscreen with
rich, colorful graphics, and games normally found on rival consoles
PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 hold their own on Wii U.
Nintendo
also introduces a revamped online hub, Nintendo Network, which players
navigate via GamePad. There's an eShop for purchasing games, a Web
browser and social MiiVerse where players interact with their Mii
avatar. Unfortunately, users must wait until next month for Nintendo
TVii, which adds a sophisticated program guide, and apps such as Hulu,
Amazon Instant Video and YouTube.
Whether the Wii U reaches the
incredible heights of its predecessor remains to be seen. The Nintendo
Wii had a clear target (casual players) and a game in Wii Sports
that served as a shining example of motion-based gameplay that was easy
to enjoy. The Wii U needs a similar kind of experience to sell players
on a world with two screens.
Until we see Nintendo Network fully
functioning with the TVii service and additional games that take
advantage of the GamePad, it's hard to say whether Wii U recaptures the
console magic.
Nintendo
just released some financial results with a tweaked forecast on sales
and profits. The company slashed profit forecasts by 70% due to slow
sales of the 3DS in North America, and gave an estimate on how many Wii U
console they expect to sell. 
